Frozen Assets: Sportsbook Season Preview

Last updated October 14th

Welcome to Frozen Assets. Instead of doing an NHL pre-season preview, I think that it is only appropriate to do an NHL pre-season sportsbook preview. Last year I counted down my top 5 hockey sportsbooks for betting on hockey. This year I am offering a list of the sportsbooks that we at Illegal Curve recommend playing at (in alphabetical order).

If you haven’t signed up for the monthly handicapping challenge, you can do so here. It’s free to enter and first prize for October is a $50 credit at one of our recommended sportsbooks.

 

Whenever you join a new sportsbook, be sure to visit Sportsbook Review (SBR) for detailed analysis of each sportsbook. Also, never accept a bonus until reading the terms and conditions.

 

 

I will try to update this list every Thursday once the hockey season starts.

5Dimes

SBR Rating: A

Restricted Countries: None

Reduced Juice for Hockey: Yes

Stanley Cup Futures Now Posted: Yes

Conference Odds Now Posted: Yes

Division Odds Now Posted: No

Sign Up Bonus*: 50% bonus, max $200, 5X rollover

Comments: A great book. 5Dimes offers a variety of pucklines and totals different then the posted odds – e.g. they will offer a total at 4.5, 5.5, and 6.5. They have the biggest variety of lines. I recommend 5Dimes for someone that likes to make interesting parlays.

 

Bet365

SBR Rating: B+

Restricted Countries: United States

Reduced Juice for Hockey: No

Stanley Cup Futures Now Posted: Yes

Conference Odds Now Posted: Yes

Division Odds Now Posted: No

Sign Up Bonus*: 15% of deposit, max $500, 3X rollover

Comments: A reliable book with competitive odds and hockey futures. They have an interesting proposition who will score the most points this season.

Bet Direct

SBR Rating: B

Restricted Countries: United States

Reduced Juice for Hockey: No

Stanley Cup Futures Now Posted: Yes

Conference Odds Now Posted: Yes

Division Odds Now Posted: Yes

Sign Up Bonus*: Match bet of up to $50

 

Betfred

SBR Rating: B-

Restricted Countries: United States

Reduced Juice for Hockey: No

Stanley Cup Futures Now Posted: Yes

Conference Odds Now Posted: No

Division Odds Now Posted: No

Sign Up Bonus*: Match first bet up to $100

 

Comments: Good sign-up bonus, reliable European book. Will find occasional value here.

Betsson

SBR Rating: B-

Restricted Countries: United States

Reduced Juice for Hockey: No

Stanley Cup Futures Now Posted: No

Conference Odds Now Posted: No

Division Odds Now Posted: No

Sign Up Bonus*: None advertised

Comments: Sometimes offer interesting props – e.g. where Mats Sundin will end up. Award-winning Norwegian gaming site.

Canbet

SBR Rating: A-

Restricted Countries: United States

Reduced Juice for Hockey: No

Stanley Cup Futures Now Posted: Yes

Conference Odds Now Posted: No

Division Odds Now Posted: No

Sign Up Bonus*: On >$40 deposit $60 freebet w/2X rollover or 20% deposit up to $120 w/3X rollover

Canbet: Reliable European book. Currently offers prop: Stanley Cup winner country of origin. Fine for parlay betting.

CaribSports

SBR Rating: B

Restricted Countries: None

Reduced Juice for Hockey: No

Stanley Cup Futures Now Posted: Yes

Conference Odds Now Posted: Yes

Division Odds Now Posted: No

Sign Up Bonus*: 50% of deposit, max $250, 5X rollover

Comments: Will find value on futures here. Standard betting odds. Great sign-up bonus.

Centrebet

SBR Rating: B+

Restricted Countries: United States

Reduced Juice for Hockey: No

Stanley Cup Futures Now Posted: Yes

Conference Odds Now Posted: No

Division Odds Now Posted: No

Sign Up Bonus*: Free soccer shirt for residents of Europe & Australia – see terms & conditions on website

 Comments: Reliable European book. Futures odds not yet posted.

 

Gamebookers

SBR Rating: B-

Restricted Countries: United States, Italy

Reduced Juice for Hockey: No

Stanley Cup Futures Now Posted: Yes

Conference Odds Now Posted: Yes

Division Odds Now Posted: Yes

 

Sign Up Bonus: 25% bonus up to 50 Euros, 3X rollover

 

Comments: Sometimes have unique props. Bi-weekly no juice games are valuable.

Intertops Sportsbook

SBR Rating: B+

Restricted Countries: None

Reduced Juice for Hockey: No

Stanley Cup Futures Now Posted: Yes

Conference Odds Now Posted: Yes

Division Odds Now Posted: Yes

 

Sign Up Bonus: Free $20 match bet, 16X rollover.

 

Comments: Experienced, reliable book open to players of all countries. Standard betting options.

 

Ladbrokes

SBR Rating: A+

Restricted Countries: United States, Germany

Reduced Juice for Hockey: No

Stanley Cup Futures Now Posted: Yes

Conference Odds Now Posted: Yes

Division Odds Now Posted: Yes

Sign Up Bonus*: $10 match bet

Comments: One of the top European books. Ladbrokes, like other major European books, is a publicly traded company.

Pinnacle

SBR Rating: A+

Restricted Countries: United States

Reduced Juice for Hockey: Yes

Stanley Cup Futures Now Posted: No

Conference Odds Now Posted: No

Division Odds Now Posted: No

Sign Up Bonus*: 10% of deposit up to $500, 3X rollover

Comments: Consistently voted the best online sportsbook. They have reduced juice, team totals and occasionally offer interesting props. They do not have futures odds up as regularly as other books.

 

 

Stan James

SBR Rating: B

Restricted Countries: United States

Reduced Juice for Hockey: No

Stanley Cup Futures Now Posted: Yes

Conference Odds Now Posted: Yes

Division Odds Now Posted: Yes

Sign Up Bonus*: Match bet of up to $50

 

Comments: Juice is worse than average but they currently are the only book offering division odds. Also offer live betting on hockey.

The Greek

SBR Rating: A+

SBR Rating: A+

Restricted Countries: None

Reduced Juice for Hockey: No

Stanley Cup Futures Now Posted: Yes

Conference Odds Now Posted: Yes

Division Odds Now Posted: No

Sign Up Bonus: 21% of first deposit.

Comments: One of oldest and best books catering to North American Players.

Unibet

SBR Rating: B+

Restricted Countries: None

Reduced Juice for Hockey: No

Stanley Cup Futures Now Posted: No

Conference Odds Now Posted: No

Division Odds Now Posted: No

Sign Up Bonus*: None advertised

Comments: 2008 European Sportsbook of the Year. Many international hockey odds. Reliable book.  Currently offering a penalty minutes prop on Douglas Murray v. Jarkko Ruutu.

 

 

William Hill

SBR Rating: A

SBR Rating: A

Restricted Countries: United States, Germany, Italy

Reduced Juice for Hockey: No

Stanley Cup Futures Now Posted: Yes

Conference Odds Now Posted: Yes

Division Odds Now Posted: No

Sign Up Bonus: None advertised

Comments: Standard juice, standard European Book. Almost never cancels a bad line.

 

* PLEASE READ THE FINE PRINT BEFORE ACCEPTING ANY BONUS OFFER!!!!

If you have any specific questions about these sportsbooks or if you want opinions on any books not listed here, please feel free to e-mail me at ari@illegalcurve.com